Tube bending apparatus



April 7, 1964 w, us s 3,127,921

TUBE BENDING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1961 INVENTOR; jkE hMus/sro.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,127,921 TUBE BENDING APRARATUS Ike W. Kusisto, 471 E. Center St, Wickenhnrg, Ariz. Filed .lnly 10, 1961, Ser. No. 122,675 2 Claims. (Cl. 153-48) This invention pertains to bending appanatus and is particularly directed to new and useful improvements in pipe and tubing bending tools.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple and efiicient operating device for use in bending all types of pipe and tubing and th s without requiring unusual elfont or skill on the part or the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bending apparatus including a work engaging annular slot the same width as the diameter of the work to be bent and of a depth at least equal to the diameter of the work over which the work is adapted to being drawn partially around the annular slot by applying pressure on the work at spaced points each side of the annular slot, the sides of the slot holding the work in true circular cross section during the bending operation.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the spaced point work contacting member.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view ot the annular slotted work receiving and holding member.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the apparatus incorporating the features of this invention during an actual tube bending operation.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown a tube bending apparatus including the Work suppont member having a convex arcuate surface 11 in which is formed an annular groove 12 whose sides 13 are spaced apart a distance equal to the diameter of the pipe or tubing 14 to be operated upon. The bottom 15 of the groove 12 is of semicircular cross section conforming to the diameter of the workpiece 14, the bottom 15 being positioned below the periphery 11 of the work support member a distance equal to the diameter of the workpiece 14.

The cooperating bending element 16 may comprise a block of suitably shaped material having the work engaging pressure edges 17 and 18 separated by an arcuate cutout 19 adapted to receive the convex arcuate surface 11 of the member 10 during the bending operation.

In bending the pipe or tubing 14, the members 10 and 16 are moved relative to each other in the direction indicated by the arrow 20. With the members 10 and 16 fully separated the tube 14 is placed at 14a, FIG. 3, resting at the point 21 in the bottom 15 ot the groove 12 and aligned by the closely fitting sides 13 ot the groove. The faces 22 and 23 at this time are contacting the unbent workpiece 14 at the position 14a.

As the members 10 and 16 move relatively toward each other, the pressure edges 17 and 18 of the member 16 engage the workpiece 14 as shown at 14b, FIG. 3, wrapping the workpiece around the member 10 in the closely fitting groove 12. It is important to note that the closely fitting sides 13 of the groove 12 maintain the true circular cross section :for the workpiece 14 during the bending operation and thus prevent crushing of the pipe or tube at the bent area with consequent damage and restriction in the bent pipe line.

The degree or amount of bend is regulated by the rela- 3,127,921 Patented Apr. 7, 1964 tive approach of the members 1% and 16 up to the bend at 140, with members 16 and 10 fully engaged.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration Without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as tall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set tenth and described this invention What is claimed and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A tube bending apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a fixed Work support member having,

(1)) a convex arcuate surface in which is formed an annular groove having rigid side surfaces spaced apart [a fixed distance equal to the outside diameter of the workpiece to be operated upon,

(c) the convex 'arcuate closed bottom of said groove being of semi-circular cross section conforming to the outside diameter of said workpiece,

(d) said convex arcuarte closed bottom of said groove being further characterized by being positioned below the convex arouate surface of said work support member a distance equal to the diameter of said workpiece,

(e) and a cooperating bending element comprising a rigid block having diametrically spaced work ongaging pressure edges separated by an arcuate cutout portion having open sides adapted to receive the convex arcuate surface of said Work support member during the bending operation.

2. A tube bending apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a fixed work support member having,

(b) a convex arcuate surface in which is for-med an annular groove having rigid side surfaces spaced apart a fixed distance equn to the outside diameter of the workpiece to be operated upon,

(0) the convex arcuate closed bottom of said groove being of semi-circular cross section conforming to the outside diameter of said workpiece,

(d) said convex arcuate closed bottom of said groove being further characterized by being positioned below the convex arcuate surface of said work support member a distance equal to the diameter of said workpiece,

(e) a cooperating bending element comprising,

(f) a rigid block having open sides (g) diametrically spaced work engaging pressure edges tormed thereon and separated by (h) an arcuate cutout having open sides adapted to receive said convex 'arcuate surface of said work support member during the bending operation on said workpiece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,373,822 Geppelt Apr. 17, 1945 2,458,202 Robertson Jan. 4, 1949 2,523,527 Steder Sept. 26, 1950 2,647,552 Magnuson Aug. 4, 1953 2,906,149 Benfield et a1 Sept. 29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 106,222 Sweden Dec. 29, 1942 

1. A TUBE BENDING APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A FIXED WORK SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING, (B) A CONVEX ARCUATE SURFACE IN WHICH IS FORMED AN ANNULAR GROOVE HAVING RIGID SIDE SURFACES SPACED APART A FIXED DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF THE WORKPIECE TO BE OPERATED UPON, (C) THE CONVEX ARCUATE CLOSED BOTTOM OF SAID GROOVE BEING OF SEMI-CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION CONFORMING TO THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID WORKPIECE, (D) SAID CONVEX ARCUATE CLOSED BOTTOM OF SAID GROOVE BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY BEING POSITIONED BELOW THE CONVEX ARCUATE SURFACE OF SAID WORK SUPPORT MEMBER A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID WORKPIECE, (E) AND A COOPERATING BENDING ELEMENT COMPRISING A RIGID BLOCK HAVING DIAMETRICALLY SPACED WORK ENGAGING PRESSURE EDGES SEPARATED BY AN ARCUATE CUTOUT PORTION HAVING OPEN SIDES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE CONVEX ARCUATE SURFACE OF SAID WORK SUPPORT MEMBER DURING THE BENDING OPERATION. 